Things to Do in Gonzalez

Since its humble beginnings on Tomahawk Landing in the '70s, Adventures Unlimited has been reconnecting city dwellers and outdoors enthusiasts to the natural world through paddle-powered river trips, exhilarating ziplining flights, and team-building rope courses. Its staff of nature lovers young and old find their niche in the lush woodlands surrounding Coldwater Creek, with its robust ecosystem of hawks, turtles, and fish, as well as sasquatches disguised as hawks, turtles, and fish. When adventurers tucker themselves out with day trips into the wild, they can settle in for a long haul at Adventures Unlimited's selection of cabins and campgrounds.

Destin Parasailing whisks aquanauts on a variety of adventurous expeditions on the scenic waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Chartered deep-sea fishing trips cast lines for snapper and grouper and include a fishing license for the day, and jet ski and pontoon boat rentals are available. Destin Parasailing’s captains hold certification from the United States Coast Guard, and the company’s fleet of CWS boats is checked daily to ensure it exceeds all Coast Guard safety regulations.

Olin Marler's Charter Fishing & Dolphin Cruises dispatches its robust fleet of boats from Destin Harbor on dolphin cruises in the Gulf. Narrated dolphin cruises ferry large groups, such as bachelor parties and flash-mob reunions, into the Gulf's waters throughout the day aboard glass-bottom boats with names such as Miss Florida and Hannah Marie.

Under the right guidance, the clear blue waters around Destin's harbor become visible from every angle—the air, the surface, or deep below. Destin Snorkel leads a comprehensive roster of area adventure tours, granting guests total flexibility to join or leave their excursion at any time. Guides steer one of three boats through the bay, keeping all their participants' needed snorkeling or snuba gear onboard and unhaunted by pirate ghosts to allow frequent plunges into waters rich with seashells and wildlife. When not pausing at shallow-water dive sites, boats embark on day cruises for dolphin sightseeing tours or at night to showcase fireworks over the harbor skyline. Sea kayaks also allow visitors to venture off on their own into the waters around Crab Island and Holiday Isle.

Alternatively, FFA-certified flight instructors provide a different perspective, soaring over the coastline in beach-discovery flights. During any of the cruises and tours, guides may expound on the local ecosystem and the harbor's history, revealing whether the town's first civilians ever taught dolphins how to open their eyes above water.

The rumble of rolling spheres serves as a baritone harmony to gleeful shouts at the seats that surround Oops Alley's gleaming lanes. Bowling shoes glide against the wood as patrons take turns knocking down pins in competitions to earn the highest scores or disprove a law of Newtonian physics. Karaoke nights put visiting lungs to use, and a variety of other events lures bowlers away from vendettas with their wooden nemeses. An arcade fuels between-frame score settling with Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution machines that ooze digital melody near a bank of pool tables. A full bar and concession stand whets whistles, and a big-screen television stands tall, waiting to broadcast important athletic competitions or the winner of the Fred Flintstone look-alike contest.

Steve Hill was frustrated. An avid paddleboarder, he was unable to find a shop in Florida's panhandle that demoed and sold equipment. Undeterred, he took matters into his own hands and opened GUSU Paddlesports, filling the shop with colorful racks of boards ready to lend their buoyancy to everyone from beginners to surf paddlers to racers.

GUSU Paddlesports' staff builds their business around the motto "try before you buy." They offer a full lineup of demo equipment that customers can test before sliding a giant wedding ring onto boards from brands such as Jimmy Lewis, Ohana, Tahoe SUP, and paddles by Quickblade and Kialoa. In addition to sales and rentals, the crew also teaches paddleboarding classes and leads scenic tours into nearby Destin Harbor.